Chapter 1 The Price of Hope

BRIELLE'S POV

If only Dad and mom were here...

Or probably just one of them...

That thought stayed with me, heavier than the weight in my chest.

I stood at the hospital balcony, just outside Sterling's wardroom, watching the clouds shift just as restless as l was. The breeze brushed my cheeks, cold and indifferent from my silent cry.

I pressed my hands against the metal railing, cool and unyielding just like the reality I faced.

Since our parents passed, life has become a constant struggle. But being the eldest meant I couldn't afford to break - until now.

"If you want to see your brother live, you must pay up the medical bills. This surgery is his only hope of survival" The doctor's words echoed constantly in my head.

Where was I going to find that kind of money? We had exhausted every favour, sold everything of value, and still... nothing. The money wasn't enough.

A sharp sob tore from my throat. I dropped to my knees, fingers tangled in my hair, my voice rising into the still air.

"Ahhhh!"

It was raw. Loud. Ugly. But it was the only way to release the pressure boiling inside me.

My dark shiny eyes had now turned red. Full of tears, blurring my vision.

I didn't expect anyone to hear - or care. Not when the world felt like it was completely against my existence. But then a warm hand touched my shoulder. Giselle.

She knelt beside me without a word, her presence a quiet comfort, her soft hands rubbing on my back. Her eyes were heavy too, but she didn't cry.

She'd always been the quiet one - calm, where I was fire. But even with her silence, she reminded me that I was not alone.

I was trying so hard to stay strong at least for Sterling and Giselle, if not for myself too.

I pushed myself every day, working long hours at the guest house while still making time to visit Sterling and make sure him and Giselle were okay.

It really took a toll on me. And even though I tried to hide it, I still found myself slipping.

**********************

After that breakdown, I knew I had to keep going. Crying wouldn't save Sterling nor pay the humongous bill. Only money would. So, I braced up and kept moving.

Every day after my cleaning shift at the Blackwood Guest House, I went back to the hospital, slept for a few hours, then repeated the cycle. I saved every naira, but the bill loomed like a mountain I couldn't climb.

One Friday, everything changed.

I could remember how the guest house was buzzing that morning. Word spread fast that the CEO was coming. Rowan Blackwood.

The man behind a chain of luxury hotels and resorts. He was famous for his ruthlessness in business and his god-like looks. So I heard.

I didn't care much for flashy men, but even I was curious. I hadn't seen him in person before. But that wasn't what made that day unforgettable.

I was cleaning the marble floors in the hallway when the air shifted. Not from the breeze, but from the silence that followed. Every staff member froze, aligning themselves in a single line and greeting.

That's when I looked up.

He was taller than I imagined. Full chested, black curly hair dressed in a suit that screamed wealth without trying too hard. Rowan Blackwood.

He was indeed handsome. I thought for a second.

Then I snapped back into my world. Focused on my cleaning. I felt someone walking towards me.

I immediately looked up and genuflected. "Good day, sir." I said with my heart racing and my mind wondering why Rowan was standing just in my view.

Then he cuts my thoughts.

"Hey, pretty," he said with a charming smile.

His voice was smooth, not arrogant, just... confident. I wasn't used to being addressed like that.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Brielle. Brielle Jaxon, sir" I replied, trying not to sound as flustered as I felt.

"Lovely name," he said with a half-smile.

Then came the question I dreaded, "You work here as a cleaner?"

"Yes, sir," I answered.

He studied me. I could feel it.

"Why does someone like you take on such a job?" he sounded concerned

For a moment, I wanted to lie. Say something simple. But instead, I told the truth. I mean, no one knows. He may assist.

"I need the money. My younger brother. He's in the hospital. He needs surgery. It's expensive. I've tried everything but..." My voice cracked.

I didn't finish the sentence.

His expression changed. Just slightly. A flicker of something I couldn't name passed through his eyes.

"I'm sorry you're going through that," he said. "You must be very strong."

I gave a slight nod, unsure how to respond.

"I want to help you," he added.

I looked up sharply. "Sir?"

"I'll pay your brother's medical bills," he said, and my heart skipped a bit.

"Thank you," I gasped. "Thank you so much, sir."

A weight lifted off my shoulders. Relief poured through me like a rushing stream.

But then he spoke again.

"There's just one condition."

My smile faltered.

"Marry me," he said. "That's the deal."

The words hit like thunder.

I froze. My heart dropped to my stomach. What was he saying?

I stared at him, trying to process it. His face gave nothing away. He was serious. Dead serious.

"Think about it," he said, pulling a card from his suit. "Call me when you've made up your mind."

He offered the card. I took it slowly, my fingers brushing against his. The card felt heavier than it should have.

I stared at the card long after he left.

Rowan Blackwood. Billionaire. CEO. And now, potential... husband?

My heart was a mess. Could I really marry a man I barely knew? Just to save Sterling?

Would that be a sacrifice... or a mistake?

The wind picked up, brushing against my skin like a warning. I felt an urge to let tears flow but I was in a crowd.

"You must be very strong."

I recalled those words.

"Yes, I am strong. And I will face this."

But deep down, I already knew that I had to choose.

And fast because time was running out.